The Power of Priming

Why the Messages You Plant First Shape What People See Next

Just like priming with concrete and the right materials, so is the priming of sermons and ministry.

Why Some Messages Stick—and Others Don’t

Have you ever bought a new car… and then suddenly noticed that everyone else seems to be driving the same model?

That’s not coincidence. It’s priming.

Once your brain has been tuned to notice something, it will spot it everywhere.

Here’s the kicker: studies show your brain is 80% more likely to notice what it’s been “primed” to expect.

That means if you prime your audience for truth—they’ll see it everywhere. If you don’t… the culture will prime them for lies instead.

🧠 The Science of Priming

Priming works because your brain is a pattern-detection machine.

• When you see a word, image, or idea, your brain builds a mental filter.

• That filter scans everything around you for matches.

• You literally start to interpret the world through what you’ve been exposed to.

One experiment found that people who read words related to “old age” (like “gray,” “wrinkle,” “Florida”) actually walked slower down a hallway afterward.

Another study showed that students who were primed with achievement-related words (“win,” “compete,” “succeed”) performed significantly better on problem-solving tests.

In other words: what you prime for, you get more of.

✝️ The Faith-Based Creative Truth

Jesus knew this.

When He announced, “The Kingdom of God is near” (Mark 1:15), He primed His followers.

Suddenly, everything they saw—a healed blind man, a shared meal, a forgiven sinner—became evidence of the Kingdom.

They couldn’t unsee it.

This is why Jesus spoke in phrases like:

• “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed.”

• “The Kingdom is like yeast mixed into dough.”

He was priming His listeners with metaphors so everyday life became spiritual object lessons.

The Kingdom wasn’t just taught—it was noticed everywhere.

How to Use Priming in Sermons and Media

Here are practical ways you can apply the science of priming to ministry:

🎯 1. Prime Early

The first words you say in a sermon set the lens for everything else. Instead of “Good morning,” try:“This week, you’re going to see God’s fingerprints in places you’ve overlooked.”

🖼️ 2. Use Visual Cues

Jesus held coins, pointed at sparrows, drew in the dirt. A physical object primes the brain to remember the message tied to it.

🔄 3. Repeat Key Phrases

Repetition primes recognition. Paul’s letters were full of repeated phrases like “Grace and peace to you.”

🎶 4. Prime with Music

Worship songs before the sermon create emotional and cognitive priming. They open hearts before the message begins.

📱 5. Prime in Your Media Titles

Instead of “Sermon on Forgiveness,” use “How to See Forgiveness Everywhere This Week.” It primes the audience to spot it beyond Sunday.

A Real-Life Example

I worked with a youth pastor who started every sermon with this phrase:“God is closer than you think.”

For weeks, his students began reporting “God sightings” in their journals—small moments like an encouraging text or an unexpected act of kindness.

By priming them to notice God’s nearness, he multiplied their awareness.

📝 Quick Checklist for Priming

• 🔲 Did I introduce a lens or metaphor at the start?

• 🔲 Am I using repetition to reinforce it?

• 🔲 Is there a visual or story attached?

• 🔲 Am I helping my audience see it beyond Sunday?

📥 FREE RESOURCE

Want to learn exactly how Jesus used priming to unlock spiritual vision?

👉 “12 Psychological Triggers Jesus Used (And How to Apply Them Today)”

Inside you’ll discover:

✅ A breakdown of the priming strategies hidden in His parables.

✅ Examples you can weave into sermons, reels, and devotionals.

✅ A step-by-step guide to help your audience see truth everywhere they go.

➡️ Download it free here: www.laynemcdonald.com/jesustriggers

✝️ Final Word & Coaching Invitation

The world is already priming people—through ads, algorithms, and headlines.

The question is: Who will prime them first?

When you use the power of priming with intention, you help people see Jesus not just in church… but in everything.

👉 Schedule your free 30-minute creative coaching call here: www.laynemcdonald.com/coaching

Let’s learn to set the lens together—and watch how it changes what people see.